United States secure first win of America's Cup, trail NZ 4-1

GETTY IMAGES
America's Cup holders Oracle Team USA are in a desperate game of catchup against Emirates Team New Zealand

Vera Richards
|
26 June, 2017, 02:13

The Kiwis need one more win to humble Ellison's squad and reclaim the oldest trophy in worldwide sports for the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in Auckland, which held it from 1995-2003.

On a much more positive note, Spithill was delighted to see his team chalk up their first point after winning an exciting sixth race, which featured multiple lead changes and more breathtaking dial-downs.

It is Burling who has been at the helm for each of the team's races in Bermuda, seemingly unflappable against far more experienced and aggressive sailors in Ben Ainslie and now Jimmy Spithill.

It seemingly doesn't matter to Spithill that Oracle merely cut Team New Zealand's lead to 4-1 in the first-to-seven regatta. When the boats crossed again, New Zealand was slightly ahead and on favored starboard tack.

The US team, backed by tech billionaire Larry Ellison, erased an 8-1 deficit four years ago to stun New Zealand 9-8 in San Francisco. That was enough to allow Burling to speed well ahead.

Races seven and eight are scheduled for Monday (NZT) where similar wind speeds of 8-10 knots are forecast.

Team USA accelerated clear off the start line to lead around mark one and two for the first time.

It was a well-earned win and was exactly what the boys needed,  said Spithill, the youngest skipper to win the Auld Mug.

While the 50-foot catamarans are "ripping" around the race course, the graceful J Class boats, which will be in Newport in August for the J Class World Championship, are also competing in Bermuda as part of the America's Cup series.

"It makes life a little easier when you get off the start 14 seconds ahead", said Burling, who some thought would struggle when matching wits with two-time Cup victor Spithill.

Burling and his crew fought hard to get back into the race and at one stage got a lead, only to be overtaken and ultimately left trailing in the wake of the USA boat as it screamed into the finish, to loud cheers from many Bermudan supporters.

"We were really happy with today's racing but we talked about how we had a lot of things we wanted to improve and today's no different".

"Jimmy was pretty close to getting us in a start like that yesterday and we felt that, if we pulled off the manoeuvre with them sitting two hulls, we had a pretty good opportunity to get the hook".

Burling forced Oracle to turn head to wind, nearly slowing Spithill to a complete stop, before the Kiwis peeled away and accelerated over the line. But it also meant Dalton was freed to a adopt a more novel approach to setting up a sailing team. "At one stage, we actually said, 'We want you to look at traversing behind the wing.' And that turned out to be probably more risky than going in front". "I honestly don't think it's the bikes", Spithill said.

Recommended

Emirates Team New Zealand capitalised on mistakes from their rivals to leave them 4-0 ahead and just three points from victory. They were one of the only teams to consistently get up on their foils as they eased away from the rest of the fleet.

Flooding is already a problem in dozens of communities, and before it's over some areas could see a foot of water or more. On Friday , forecasters were trying to verify exactly how many tornadoes touched down in Alabama during Cindy's passage.

The manufacturer of the insulation used to clad Grenfell Tower said they would stop using the product on high-rise buildings . Look, you've got to err on the side of caution. "In some cases it's possible to take mitigating action", she told Sky news.

The UN refugee agency reported that "very high" volumes of conflict and persecution is forcing people to flee their homes. The UN agency said it found a record 65.6 million people were forcibly displaced at the end of 2016.

After Hillary Clinton's loss to Donald Trump last November, a significant crop of Democratic lawmakers attempted to vote her out. She dismissed the members who have said it is time for a change as "blatantly self-serving" and "having fun on TV".

Volkswagen has touted apprenticeship programs at its Chattanooga manufacturing plant as a way to bridge the US skilled labor gap. White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos also participated in the roundtable.

They were among the youngest teams in the league last season, cast as a team that could be a force once all of their pups grew up. Despite a spirited effort, the Bulls were eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

It seems that not merely Kohli but also other players of the Indian team had grievances against the way Kumble functioned. Kumble has expressed surprise over Kohli's reservation against his "style" after resigning from the post.

The message after four races according to the GOP: Americans aren't as sick of the chaos in Washington as the media says. But he said there is no doubt that "this is one occasion when we ought to say he deserves to take a victory lap".

In the photography department, the MotoE4 features an 8MP primary camera with f/2.2 aperture, autofocus, along with a LED flash. Finally, the Moto E4 Plus comes with a 5.5-inch HD display , 13 MP camera and Dolby Atmos technology, retailing for BRL 949.

Not 'That Far Off' From Passing Health Overhaul
Sandoval said he would do "everything in my power" to make sure those people can maintain the quality of life they now have. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price defended the GOP health care plan Sunday from Republicans opposing the bill.

Google to stop reading your Gmail to help sell adds
Google is stopping one of the most controversial advertising formats: ads inside Gmail that scan users' e-mail contents. Google had been scanning through what Gmail users were discussing and then showing ads connected to some of the topics.

Federer wins Halle Open tennis title
Things can happen, things can change, if he has tough matches en route, he might feel it physically in the final. The Czech was playing her fifth match since the stabbing she suffered at her home in Prostejov six months ago.

Walker supports Johnson opposition to health care bill
In 2017, the average deductible for a silver plan is just under $3,600, according to Health Pocket, an insurance shopping site. His company was not one of the 10 that wrote to the Senate leaders, but he said Friday that he was also opposed to the bill.

Cable vehicle crashes in tourist resort in Kashmir, killing 7
As per former Chief Minister of J&K, Omar Abdullah's tweet ( @abdullah_omar ) this is first-of-its-kind accident in the valley. He said the chief minister also directed a high level inquiry to find the causes or lapses, if any, that led to the accident.

White House paints Handel win as Trump triumph
These Democrats might be on to something, especially in light of the way Pelosi figured into the Republican campaign in Georgia. Asked if Pelosi should remain the top House Democratic leader in the next Congress , her number two, Rep.

England vs South Africa, 3rd T20I
But he also showed touch too in flipping leg-spinner Imran Tahir over short fine leg for a four that saw him to fifty. Morris was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Phehlukwayo and Dane Paterson claimed one wicket each.

Israel strikes Syrian positions after fire toward it
Israel annexed the Golan area following the Six-Day War in 1967, but the move was never recognized by the worldwide community. Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Hezbollah have been clashing with rebels not far from the Golan Heights.

Jose Mourinho accused of tax fraud in Spain
Barcelona's Lionel Messi was sentenced to a 21-month jail sentence and 2.09 million euro fine previous year for tax fraud. Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano also agreed a one-year suspended sentence with authorities for tax fraud last year.

Escaped Georgia inmates captured in Tennessee after chase
They are now being extradited back to Georgia to face Murder charges, as well as Federal charges for "Unlawful Flight". He also expressed gratitude to all of the law enforcement officers who provided support and assistance in the search.

Mourinho accused of tax fraud
The football world in Spain has been rocked by charges of tax evasion or corruption pressed against some of its top stars. Real Madrid have refuted claims Jose Mourinho signed a contract to take over at the club before he left Inter.